Disclaimer: As of May 2022, the Speed Test feature has been removed from the Windows app. It is still available in the ExpressVPN app for Mac.
This post was originally published on June 11, 2014.
As you may have noticed, we’ve rolled out a new Speed Test feature in our Windows and Mac OS apps.
Get the most out of ExpressVPN by using the Speed Test to find the best location for you.
Who knows? There might be a better server location for you than the one that you’re currently using.
To run the test, open up ExpressVPN on your Windows or Mac computer.
On the home screen, click the hamburger menu (≡), then click Speed Test.
On the Speed Test screen, click Run Test. This will take a few minutes but should be worth the wait.
(Also, you don’t need to wait for the tests to complete; you can cancel them after the latency tests are done and use the app to connect to a server location as you normally would. For best results, however, let the test run its course.)
How to interpret your speed test results
Speed Tests measures Latency and Download Speed, then combines those two into a single number called the Speed Index. You can sort your results by clicking on the headers in the columns.
- Latency is a measure of how long it takes for data to get from your computer to the VPN server, measured in milliseconds. The lower, the better. Generally speaking, the farther away the server is, the higher the latency will be. You’ll want the latency to be lower, as it indicates that your data has taken the shortest possible route.
- Download Speed measures how much data was transferred per second (measured in Megabits per second). The higher, the better.
- Speed Index is a combination of latency and download speed. The higher, the better.
How to use your speed test results
Now it’s time to put your speed test results to use! The location with the highest Speed Index is likely to be best for you for general web browsing.
However, in some cases you may want to access websites in specific countries. If so, you’ll want to choose the server with the highest Speed Index in that particular country.
For example, if you’re trying to connect to a website in the U.S., then you’ll want to connect to the U.S. server that returned the highest Speed Index. For the speed test in the screenshot, that would be “USA – Los Angeles”.
For convenience, the app will remember the Speed Test winner, and it’ll also remember the last three servers you connected to. You can access those in the left-hand side of the screen.
Give it a whirl!
Try it for yourself: run a speed test and connect to the server with the best Speed Index. And let us know in the comments how it works out for you – are you getting better speeds?
If you have any questions, please email or chat with us and we’ll help you choose a location.
Comments
I just checked for your VPN speed test after the last upgrade (April 4 2023) and
ExpressVPN has decided to discontinue “Speedtest” to find the fastest VPN server in a country. It was a feature that I used occasionally to maximize throughput during geo-locating. Please bring it back.
I like the new update. The one before took forever to close the VPN connection with the program hanging for a couple of hours occasionally. This is much better now.
This was a very important tool for those who play online
I use the speedtest feature daily. Always nice to check on ExpressVPN servers to see which is likely to provide the fastest speeds. Per conversations with ExpressVPN support, the download speeds offered are merely a representation. For example: the fastest download speed I saw earlier today was 33mpbs, also best speed index and latency. I’m on a 200mbps fiber connection. When I do an alternate speed test I have speeds of 50mbps upload and download. When I change servers to say the second best rated ExpressVPN server for the moment, showing 10 mbps download speed on ExpressVPN’s speedtest, I get approximately 200mbps upload and download when tested alternatively. Go by the SpeedIndex numbers. They will steer you in the right direction.
Why did you remove the speed test in the Windows version? Is it available somewhere else? This was a very useful tool, not happy this was removed 🙁
Is the speed test option only available before you connect to a server? The speed test option is grayed out after I connect to a particular server. Also, every time I run the test it gives me error on the latency and speed index columns, and only gives me the download speeds in mb/s.
I just bought the product on 12-27-2019.
Windows 10, ‘Speed Test’ still greyed out.
When will it return ?
Also, the product wreaks havoc with Mozilla Thunderbird email service.
T-Bird and gmail get confused when I change cites or countries.
I am happy to have the protection though.
Hi Bill. Sorry you’re having some tech issues. Please contact our Support Team and they will help you get it sorted.
hello my ExpressVPN say EngineUnavailable who fixing?
Hi, George, please contact support and they will help you.
I use the Windows version of expressvpn and the speed test crashes and when I try to reopen it, it says engine unavailable.
Hi, Jose.
Sorry about that. Can you please get in touch with us on Live Chat? https://www.expressvpn.com/support/ Let’s get this sorted out!
I too am having this same issue. Speed test crashes.
Hi Jake, sorry you are having problems with the speed test feature. Let’s get that fixed. We can help you instantly via Live Chat https://www.expressvpn.com/support/
I too am having this issue. I am issuing a speed test, it crashes and when I try to restart expressvpn it says engine unavilable.
Hi HPfanlover, please get in touch with support and they will help you out.
use version 3 of express vpn
I had this same problem. I know this is an old post but in case somebody else runs into this issue:
1. To fix the “engine unavailable” message stop then start the ExpresVpnService service (ctrl+shift+esc, services tab). Restart expressVPN and the “engine unavailable” issue would be resolved
2. The original speed test crash was a result of my Kaspersky antivirus (Other AV may cause issues too). Disable protection then re-run the speed test. Once speed test is done you can re-enable your anti-virus.
Hope this helps.
I THINK YOU’RE THE BEST…PROBLEM SOLVED. ALSO THE REASON BEHIND IS MOSTLY THE VPN SERVICE IS BLOCKED.
Thank you for helping out, CompGEO. ExpressVPN thinks you’re the best too!
there is no speed test on my app, probably because the speeds are so slow not worth measuring however to be clear when I use an independent tester using esxpressvpn cuts my speed from 40Mbits to 2 to 3 so much for blazing speed and support ha laughable, so disappointed. hopefully paypal will refund my dosh even if they don’t only paid for 1 year glad I didn’t do autorenwal Expressvpn? more like commuter train stop at ever lights vpn! yes I am upset what a waste of money 🙁
Odds on this being posted same as me having fast speeds from you
Hi Sylvester. we’re sorry the service isn’t working well for you. Please get in touch with our Support Team via Live Chat on our website and we’ll help you from there.
Speedtest on the mobile apps would be amazing
Will pass this on to our apps team 🙂 Thanks for reaching out, Craig!
Hi,
I love your product, but please bring back the speedtest feature!
The speed test feature is now available on the latest version of our Mac app and soon to follow on Windows.
How soon?
I miss the speed test!
We are currently working on it but we don’t have an ETA yet. We will announce it here once it is available.
No its not. I just purchased your express app, downloaded it, and guess what? Like everyone else, its GREYED out and I here reading chat room crap after being a customer for 5 minutes to find
fix! And instead of just posting a fix for customers to read in the response, you just tell everyone to contact support for help. Well, that takes additional time outta of my day to reach your support team that I dont have or can get back. So please, stop being so cryptic and just post a fix once and for all. I hate the secrecy approach and I have already uncheck auto-renewal.
I dunt know if this is the rite place to leave a comment but this is one of the few services i used that i will go searching for a place to leave my comments. expressvpn is great, not just great, the customer service seems to be working round the clock!! I am in asia, a different time zone but it seems they are always there! This is my 3rd day and i believe that this is money well spent in a country with the GREATEST firewall !
Hi Pt! Thanks so much for your kind remark. We’re so glad you like ExpressVPN 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful day.